Clinical manifestation of vitamin B 12 deficiency in children – analysis

Diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency could be difficult due to various and rather unspecific symptoms and often late manifestation in hematological findings. B12 has a crucial role as cofactor of many metabolic pathways and has essential role in many processes such as DNA synthesis, neuron myelination and gluconeogenesis. Blood smear has a huge role in early diagnosis and should be performed. B12 deficiency is not very common, however could be underestimated especially in developing countries. In children main cause of deficiency is exclusively breastfeeding by vitamin B12 depleted mothers. Consequences of low intake in children are more severe than in adults, because of lower liver storage. Early detection and treatment is very important, because long term deficiency could result in persistent neurological damage. Coexistence iron or folate deficiencies could result delay in diagnosis. In this article different manifestation and laboratory findings in group of children with B12 deficiency is described.